ON a day dominated by a player who wouldn't say sorry, it was left to the striker currently showing no mercy of his own to ensure a winning start to Liverpool's title challenge.

As Robbie Fowler simmered in the stands for a second consecutive weekend, Michael Owen underlined on Saturday why he is likely to be the pivotal figure if the Reds are to achieve their aim of toppling Manchester United from their Premiership perch.

His two goals were just enough to see off the threat of a plucky West Ham, who had threatened to add further embarrassment to what has been a less than distinguished week for Liverpool Football Club.

What should have been a welcoming home atmosphere hailing the treble-winning side, fresh from last week's Charity Shield triumph over their Old Trafford nemesis, instead had an air of uncertainty hanging over it.

And as is worryingly too often the case, it was Fowler at the centre of unwanted attention.

Omitted once more following his continued refusal to apologise for his part in the training ground bust-up with assistant boss Phil Thompson, the striker could only look on as Liverpool laboured to break down a dogged Hammers rearguard.

As he made his leave a few minutes before full-time, he was spotted by supporters who began to chant his name.

Moments later, however, the sound of Gerard Houllier's name reverberated around the ground at increased volume. If, as some observers believe, the real clash of approaches is between striker and boss, the fans made clear whose side they are ultimately on.

Houllier's after-match amazement at the stance Fowler had taken will no doubt have been matched by his gratitude to Owen for single-handedly propelling a surprisingly lacklustre Liverpool to this opening-day victory.

Owen has started this season in the manner he ended the last campaign: scoring goal after goal. He has now scored six in three appearances, and, taking into account his blistering form last May, has now netted 15 times in his last nine outings.

But it is not just in his goalscoring that Owen impressed. His team-work was excellent and, while his pace will always trouble defenders, he has acquired the tactical nous to make the most of his greatest weapon. The fresh-faced teenager who exploded on the world stage in France 98 has undoubtedly come of age.

"The difference between the sides was one man - Michael Owen. Our goalkeeper had no chance with the winner," admitted Hammers boss Glenn Roeder, who was making his Premiership debut as manager.

"When you play against someone like him you have to try and restrict the number of chances he has. He had only three but he scored with two of them."

Owen's brilliance, however, could not disguise what was a disappointing performance from Liverpool. Houllier will be aware his side will have to play a lot better than this if they are going to trouble the trophy cabinet again this season.

Admittedly, with the likes of Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer, Emile Heskey, Steven Gerrard and Fowler on the sidelines, the Reds were shorn of the heart of their attacking force and, despite the best efforts of Jari Litmanen to supply the ammunition to Owen, the Reds looked worryingly toothless.

It looked a disjointed and unbalanced side on paper, and on the pitch for the most part there was little evidence to suggest otherwise. Igor Biscan had a game he would sooner forget. The Croat clearly has talent in abundance, but his wares would surely be better displayed in the centre of the park rather than stuck on the right wing.

The home side's uncertainty gave West Ham - with injury problems of their own - the confidence to fight their way back into the game after Owen had struck the opening blow on 19 minutes.

After some loose possession, Markus Babbel worked the ball in to Gary McAllister on the edge of the area, whose clever back-flick put Owen through on goal. The striker still had work to do, but after skipping past Christian Dailly he clinically finished into the bottom right-hand corner of Shaka Hislop's goal.

Eleven minutes later the visitors equalised. A fluffed clearance inside the Liverpool area by Jamie Carragher placed Stephane Henchoz under pressure and the centre-back tangled with Svetoslav Todorov for the ball, before the striker eventually hit the deck and the referee pointed to the spot.

It looked a debatable decision - not the only one from the eternally poor Jeff Winter - but given the fortune the Swiss international has enjoyed inside the penalty area in recent times, he could have no real complaints.

No complaints either about Paolo Di Canio's spot-kick finish, the Italian having the audacity to wait for Arphexad to commit himself before cheekily chipping over the Frenchman's diving frame to equalise. In front of the Kop, too!

John Moncur was then fortunate on the stroke of half-time to escape with only a booking after tugging back Litmanen when the Finn was arguably through for a clear run on goal.

It was muted stuff, though, and Liverpool were missing the presence of Heskey up front as Litmanen frustratingly dropped further back into midfield.

The tempo increased slightly after the break and, to their credit, Liverpool kept plugging away. The impressive Dietmar Hamann came close with two long-range efforts, Owen headed wide and with the ailing Babbel replaced at the break by Premiership debutant John Arne Riise, the Reds were at last making ground down the wings.

Jamie Redknapp made his entrance from the bench on 72 minutes to tumultuous applause for his first senior outing since the final day defeat at Bradford City 15 months ago.

And the club skipper played a part in the winning goal 11 minutes from time.

His tenacity kept the ball in play on the left wing and gave Riise the chance to progress. The Norwegian fed Hamann, who in turn played a pass in front of the West Ham penalty area to Owen lurking on the right.

In an instant, the striker had controlled the ball, flicked it past Dailly and hammered home a right-footed shot across Hislop and in off the base of the far post. Cue a collective sigh of relief from players and fans alike.

Pretty it wasn't, but with three points on the board and Fowler now seemingly back in the good books, you suspect Houllier will not make any apology for that.

MAN OF THE MATCH>: Michael Owen

Took his two goals superbly and without his clinical finishing in front of goal, Liverpool were in danger of starting the season on a flat note. 15 goals in his last nine games - not bad for someone once memorably referred to as 'not a natural-born goalscorer'.